Presenting the Utah Jazz:
Starters
G – Jason Kidd, 98-99 (All NBA 1st, All Defensive 1st, his highest assist avg of 10.8 )
G – Gary Payton: 95-96 (DPOY, All Defensive 1st, All NBA 2nd)
SF – Chris Mullin, 89-90 (54% FG, 37% 3p, 89% FT, All NBA 3rd)
PF – Blake Griffin: 11-12 (55% FG, All NBA 2nd)
C – Arvydas Sabonis: 95-96 (youngest version of Sabonis, per 36: 22ppg, 12rpg, 2.7apg, 1.3spg, 1.6bpg, 55% FG, 38% 3p, huge production and minute increase in the playoffs).
Bench
6th – Anthony Mason: 96-97 (All Defensive 2nd, All NBA 3rd, 5.7apg)
7th - Brad Miller: 03-04 (All-Star, 4.3apg).
8th - Hersey Hawkins: 90-91 (All-Star, 40% 3p, 87% FT)
9th - Danny Granger: 07-08 (40% 3p)
10th - Brent Barry: 01-02 (50% FG, 42% 3p, 5.3apg)
11th - Nene: 10-11: (62% FG)
12th - Kyrie Irving: 11-12 (40% 3p, 87% FT, ROY)
13th Stacey Augmon: 93-94 (51% FG)
You can check out all their stats here:
First SixSecond Six13th ManFirst things first: the Kidd/Payton backcourt is not a problem at all.
Both grew up together in Oakland, are friends, Kidd has called Payton his mentor. They were the starting backcourt for both the 1999 USA Team, and the 2000 Olympic team. They can play well together and have played well together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL4-mq3Mz8I
Per Larry Brown about playing them together on Team USA:Coach Larry Brown didn't waste time placing him in the starting lineup alongside Payton.
"They're not just two great players from Oakland," Brown said. "They're two of the best guards I've ever seen. They complement each other so well. I think it would be a crime in our league if they played together."
Here’s an article that states how great the Payton/Kidd backcourt was working out for Team USA (but you need to pay to see the whole thing), but here's some key quotes from it:
But the unlikely backcourt duo of Payton and Kidd has set the tone and put these games out of reach practically before they have even started.
"You know, me and J, we grew up together [in Oakland, Calif.]," Payton said. "When we're both on the floor, it's just like . . . we're the same. Jason wants to do more; he wants to be the rebounder, the assist man, and he gets his points when he has to. But right now they have me in a position [off-guard] where they want me to score all the time, and when he or I get the ball, we know to go. And defensively, we're trying to cause havoc. We're trying to get steals, and we're trying to get easy baskets for our teammates. That's what we do."
Team USA coach Larry Brown has started Payton and Kidd together in the backcourt, which has resulted in a nightmarish experience for opponents. Each player has made his reputation in the NBA with tough defense and a propensity for finding the open man. And while they have been in San Juan, it has been no different.
"When I looked at what would give us the best chance of winning, it was a not a hard decision at all," Brown said. "I had to go with these two guys in the backcourt. They do so many things well, and they're sort of interchangeable. Their defense is so amazing, and they just cause all kind of problems for the opposition."
"Those guys are so fast, so good, so athletic and so skilled that it makes it hard for anyone [on the other team] to do their job," Nash said. "You're talking about two of the best at their position in the world. And when you go against both of them at the same time, it can be overwhelming."
"To say it's not special to play with a guy you grew up with would be lying," Payton said. "This has been fun for the both of us. Playing in games like these are the kind you grow up talking about. It makes it even better when you can look over to see someone you've known since you both were kids."
Payton and Kidd were the captains for those USA teams, just like they’ll be co-captains for my team.
Also Kidd started alongside Kevin Johnson, and also shared the court with Steve Nash in Phoenix. Gary Payton started alongside Sam Cassell with the Bucks. Kidd and Payton have played well with other point guards before, and played great together with Team USA.
Bottom line is, the Kidd/Payton backcourt works.
And with a Run-TMC version of Chris Mullin, along with Blake Griffin, I got a team that can really get out and run.
Next issue, Sabonis past his prime. I'm taking the youngest version, so the most healthy and athletic version of Sabonis available.
Look at his per 36 numbers, and look at his playoff numbers. Also in this league I don't need to play Sabonis more than the 30mpg anyway (he'll likely settle in around 25mpg). He will split time at Center with Brad Miller. Both started and came off the bench for their teams in the years I chose, both are great passing big men, great ball handlers, and both could shoot the 3p. While the rest of my team runs, they can come down and play the high post - Centers that can shoot the 3p, pass, handle the ball, and play up top are perfect for this kind of team. Your bigs gotta come out and guard them. Which will really open things up for my team with their passing.
My 6th man is Anthony Mason, another great ball handler and passer for his position, and will back up both the 3 and 4.
Rotation and minutes will look this:
PG: Kidd (35), Payton (13), Irving, Barry
SG: Payton (22), Hawkins (20), Barry (6), Augmon
SF: Mullin (30), Mason (6 ), Granger (12), Augmon
PF: Griffin (30), Mason (16), Granger (2), Nene
C: Sabonis (24), Miller (22), Griffin (2), Nene
And this is who gets the shots (based out of 100%)
Kidd: 12%
Payton: 14%
Mullin: 16%
Grffin: 16%
Sabonis: 9%
Mason: 8%
Miller: 8%
Hawkins: 8%
Granger: 6%
Barry: 2%
Irving, Nene, Augmon: 1%
Kidd and Payton are great defenders, Barry, Hawkins, Mason, Granger, and Augmon are good defenders. All but 2 players on my team averaged a steal or more per game, and those that didn't averaged 0.8 and 0.9.
Kidd, Payton, Mullin, Sabonis, Miller, Hawkins, Barry, Granger, and Irving all have to be guarded out to the 3pt line. 4 guys shot 40% or better from 3, two others shot 38%, and another shot 37%, and that doesn't include Payton or Miller who have to be respected.
All my guys are unselfish players, and probably everybody except for Griffin, Nene, and Augmon (two of whom are at the end of my bench) are great or at least above average passers and ball handlers for their position. The only person who averaged less than 2apg is Sabonis, and we know he's a great passer and that was only because he was playing 24mpg.
We got shooting, passing, defense, ball handling, and unselfishness. Looking at combined stats, my team shoots 51% from the field, 38% from 3, and 78% from the line, with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio (all would be in the running for league leaders any given year).
And all my guys have played great with other superstars (Payton and Hawkins in Seattle, then Payton again in LA and Miami, Barry in San Antonio, Sabonis in Portland, Mason in New York and Miami, Mullin with Run TMC, Granger on a balanced Indiana team, Kidd/Payton/Mullin in the Olympics. I think some teams have too many alpha dogs who need the ball and a lot of shots to be effective, I don't have that problem here.
And I feel I have a few different styles I could play too in addition to my regular starting lineup:
I can go small and fast with Blake Griffin at Center and Anthony Mason/Danny Granger at PF, or I can go big with Anthony Mason at SF, and even play Brad Miller at PF next to Sabonis at C for short periods of time.
End of bench:
I have a young stud in Irving, who granted won’t see much time, but being his first year out of college, and playing behind and learning from Payton and Kidd will suit this youngster just fine. Hey it worked for Steve Nash playing behind Kevin Johnson and Kidd. Nene is my 3rd (or even 4th) string big, backing up both the PF and C spots. He’ll provide good hustle, rebounding, defense, and scoring, and won’t miss too many shots. And Stacey Augmon is a very good athlete and defender (they didn’t call him the Plastic Man for nothing). If we had a player like Wade, Kobe, or LeBron killing us, maybe he’d get a chance to lock them down. If he did get to play, he’d thrive getting out on the break with Payton and Kidd.
You know other teams will have problems with who gets the shots and minutes (or not getting enough shots and minutes) and if certain players can co-exist together. I don't think that's a problem at all on my team. We can space the floor, pass, run, defend, and shoot.
Topic: 2012 Historical Draft Team Presentations (Read 17549 times)